Arts, Media & Entertainment
Pathways & Participating Schools
Animation
The Animation Pathway blends creative storytelling and traditional drawing with technology to encourage experimentation in form, content, and medium. Students learn basic animation concepts, which includes various artistic and technical disciplines such as modeling and texturing, character rigging, composition, and scripting, as well as character movement and acting. In addition, students explore a variety of animation careers while learning skills that prepare students for new and emerging fields.
Sample occupations associated with this pathway:
- Digital Animator
- Artistic Director
- Commercial Artist
Participating Schools:
Dance
The Dance Pathway facilitates development in movement and energy through time and space. Dance educates and enlivens the body, mind and soul. It is a tool that builds confidence and provides an opportunity to express without words. The Dance program unites students from diverse walks of life and allows them to create and express beautiful, raw and emotional dance pieces. This pathway explores careers in professional dance and choreography including, but not limited to, theatrical and television productions, dance studios and schools, theme parks and more!
Participating Schools
Digital Photography
Digital Photography Pathway is designed to educate and prepare students for a career in photography and a variety of digital arts. Digital Photography curriculum explores the art form of photography by exploring light, color, composition, creativity and more. Students will master skills in camera usage and editing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom. Students will come out of the Digital Photography Pathway with an online digital portfolio highlighting a variety of work completed in the courses.
Sample occupations associated with this pathway:
- Digital Animator
- Artistic Director
- Commercial Artist
- Web Designer
- Museum Curator
Participating Schools:
Graphic Design
The Graphic Design pathway includes those occupations that use visual art, digital media, and Web-based tools and materials as the primary means of communication and expression. In addition to an understanding of current workplace practice, this career pathway requires the development of knowledge and skills in both visual art concepts as well as new and emerging digital processes by which individuals can create and communicate complex ideas in a broad range of occupations and professions.
Sample occupations associated with this pathway:
- Digital Animator
- Artistic Director
- Commercial Artist
- Web Designer
- Museum Curator
Participating Schools:
Video Game Design
Students who follow the Game Design and Integration pathway prepare for careers within the game design industry and in related technical fields. Students will develop foundational knowledge in game design, animation, graphics, and computer software and hardware. They will apply skills in Mathematics, Physics, English Language Arts, Social Science, and Entrepreneurship. Most importantly, students will learn the twenty-first century skills of creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and technical expertise, which will increase employment capacity across the job market. In the Game Design and Integration Pathway students prepare for both entry-level employment and additional postsecondary training needed for advancement in the highly competitive game design industry. They prepare for occupations such as Game Tester/Analyst, 2-D and 3-D Animator, Storyboard, Level Artist, Texture Artist, Cinematic Artist, Game Designer, Game Programmer, and Production Team Manager. Students completing this pathway develop the skills and knowledge to be creative partners in video game design while building capacity for employment in all areas of the creative workforce.
Sample occupations associated with this pathway:
- Animator
- Designer
- Producer (Games, Esports)
- Programmer
- Technical Artist
- Visual Effects Artist
Participating Schools:
Video Production
The Video Production Pathway provides students with the training to become professional filmmakers, editors, sound designers and broadcast journalists. Classes utilize industry standard cameras and software. Students explore careers in filmmaking while gaining experience with video editing, cinematography, visual effects, sound design, storytelling as well as film history and aesthetics. Through this pathway, students will have the opportunity to learn about getting started as a filmmaker, create and produce a weekly school broadcast as well as gain advanced skills for students looking to pursue a career in the filmmaking industry. Students will also have the opportunity to visit film schools and create films for festivals and national contests. Students who are eager to learn more about the art of filmmaking will find that Canyon is rich in classes that will give students the direct hands-on experience they need to compete in the industry and showcase the skills they’ve learned in their applications to competitive film colleges.
Sample occupations associated with this pathway:
- Director
- Editor
- Producer (Film & TV Drama)
- Production Coordinator
- Script Writer
Participating Schools:
Program Details
Curriculum Standards
Pathway Completion Criteria
To be considered a Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathway completer, students must complete an 02 and 03 CTE course within the same pathway. Students must obtain a D- or higher in the 02 course and a minimum of a C- or higher in the 03 course.
Students will receive a tassel to wear at graduation for each pathway completed.
Students must complete a pathway (taking an 02 and an 03 course with a B- or higher) to apply for the Professional Internship course.